English FA to withdraw support for Fifa president amid Uefa legal threat

By Sanjay Menon — 3 August 2026 — 4 min read

Growing Opposition to Fifa’s Investment Plans

The English Football Association is preparing to formally withdraw its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino. This decision comes as Uefa is considering legal action regarding Infantino’s now-scrapped plans to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors. The move by the English FA follows a similar withdrawal of backing by the Football Association of Wales for Infantino’s re-election bid for the 2027–2031 term.

Infantino’s proposal involved creating a commercial subsidiary, named Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage Fifa’s primary events, including its World Cups. External investors would have been able to acquire minority, non-controlling stakes in this new entity. Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, was expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.

Uefa has expressed strong opposition to these plans, stating in a letter to Infantino that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and regulatory complaints related to the FFE proposal. Uefa has also requested immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all relevant documents and electronically stored information concerning the plan. This request covers various forms of communication, including email, instant messages, SMS, written correspondence, and meeting notes, involving any Fifa officer, employee, committee member, consultant, agent, member association, confederation, broadcaster, sponsor, or financial institution.

The European football governing body also specifically requested the retention of documents related to the payment structure for Fifa member associations, including its design, modelling, legal basis, approval, and communications. Uefa asked Infantino to acknowledge receipt of its letter in writing within five business days, confirming his understanding and that immediate steps had been taken to preserve relevant materials.

Confederations Divided on Leadership

Infantino had previously communicated with all 211 Fifa member associations, indicating they would receive $40m if they supported his proposal. A deadline of 19 September was set for associations to access an initial $20m. However, the opposition from European football bodies has intensified.

The leadership of Infantino has faced public questioning from football’s governing bodies in Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. Both Uefa and Concacaf have issued statements criticising the FFE plans. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has also declared its solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf on this matter. In contrast, the confederations of Africa, Conmebol, and Oceania have not publicly criticised Infantino’s plan.

Despite the growing pressure, Infantino retains support in some regions. Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka have pledged their continued support for his leadership within Fifa. If he maintains his position until March, Infantino could seek re-election for a fourth and final term as president, requiring 106 votes from Fifa’s 211 members to secure the win. Uefa commands 55 votes, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11, and Conmebol 10.

The English FA’s decision to withdraw support for Infantino marks a significant escalation. The FA had previously supported Infantino but has consistently condemned the FFE scheme, both publicly and through private representations. On Saturday, the FA called for a comprehensive review of Fifa’s leadership and governance. The Football Association of Finland was the first nation to withdraw its support for Infantino last week.

Potential for Emergency Meeting

The Fifa Council could potentially force Infantino’s resignation through an emergency meeting. Such a meeting would be triggered if 19 of the 37 Fifa Council members call for it, and it would need to take place within two weeks. The Fifa Council comprises Infantino, secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, and representatives from the confederations: Uefa has nine members, AFC seven, Concacaf five, Africa six, Conmebol five, and Oceania three.

The demand by Uefa for senior Fifa officials not to destroy any evidence related to the scrapped investment plans highlights the intensity of the dispute between the two organisations. While the threat of legal action and the withdrawal of support from European member associations could prompt Infantino to reconsider his position, it is not certain to lead to his resignation.

Uefa’s strategy appears to involve securing the necessary 19 votes to force an emergency meeting of the Fifa Council, where a demand for Infantino to step down could be made. However, a motion to call such a meeting will likely only be submitted once the required number of votes is assured. The situation remains delicately balanced, as Infantino still holds considerable support outside of Europe and the Concacaf region, and opposition from only these two confederations may not be sufficient to unseat him.

The Football Association of Wales confirmed its withdrawal of support for Infantino’s re-election bid for the 2027–2031 term on Monday morning.

Source: bbc.com